International Female Ride Day

[BtWoman]

I wrote about this before but just in case you missed it in my reply on another topic.
I need to say this because, last year, the ride I joined on Int'l Female Ride Day had me seriously concerned!!! It was a fairly large group, with obviously mixed riding skill levels and experience.
It was a ride mostly through city roads, with lighted intersections and it was unescorted, meaning that there were no police blocking intersections to let us legally ride through the red lights. Yet I noticed that ALL the riders behind me were going straight through the reds, red-as-hell red lights!! I was scared for them and myself and praying that I do not come up to a red light. If I do, I will stop because it's the law! And I was thinking, if I stop, will an inexperienced rider behind me plow into me or hit her brakes so hard that she goes down?!! Actually, several years ago, on another group ride, the latter really did happen when a fresh newbie didn't expect me to stop for a stale yellow light. There was enough time to stop, so I did. She was carted off to the hospital. She admitted afterward that she was tired and probably shouldn't have even been riding that day. This accident happened at the end of the day.
So, if any of you are making plans to arrange an event for our special day, you might want to hold a mandatory pre-ride safety talk for the group. I think it's good idea!
Cheers!

[tlc]

Good point and I'm glad you posted. I think I would pass on that or ride at the tail end (but I would really pass on it). Whom ever was planning that ride is a dipstick. Even I know better than that.

[ladyriders225]

btwomen , great information to pass on. I know what you mean and I do not understand why some folks think just because they are in a group ride, they do not need to stop at red lights, stop signs etc. Any many more dangerous things they do, I would have jumped out of that ride as soon as possible. Thanks for the reminder tips, and I stress never leave on a group ride if they do not have pre-ride instructions to go over the safty tips before the ride. Anna

[BtWoman]

Good point and I'm glad you posted. I think I would pass on that or ride at the tail end (but I would really pass on it). Whom ever was planning that ride is a dipstick. Even I know better than that.

Given who was the event planner, I was quite surprised it was not planned better in that regard!! I will e-mail her, too. If she appreciates it, then I may give her events another chance.

[BtWoman]

btwomen , great information to pass on. I know what you mean and I do not understand why some folks think just because they are in a group ride, they do not need to stop at red lights, stop signs etc. Any many more dangerous things they do, I would have jumped out of that ride as soon as possible. Thanks for the reminder tips, and I stress never leave on a group ride if they do not have pre-ride instructions to go over the safty tips before the ride. Anna

Anna, great points. I think I myself will from now on be checking into other riders' experience when I join a group. They can be very safe and well organized or they can be risky as hell!
There's one particular charity ride that has grown very large over the years. Maybe some of the reasons include that they give away the best swag to all riders and they have pretty impressive draw prizes (this year, top prize is a H-D Switchback!! I am joining the ride this year for that reason, alone!! Hey, if you don't have a draw ticket, you surely can't win, huh?). Anyway, the road captain gets on stage before the ride and gives a good speech on road safety. I have ridden on several other group rides with this gentle big teddy bear of a man and he's a superb ride captain!! Unfortunately, though, there are some clowns who ignore his advice and ride like hooligans, anyway, on this big charity thing. I personally think they should be banned for their dangerous antics, after all, we are all donating to the same charity, so should be considered their "special guests", really. Anyway, I have learned in a case like this, and it's a fairly long ride, one can do the ride bright and early before most everyone else, or position yourself in such a way that you let the hooligans go waaaaay ahead of you, such as waiting at gas stops until the way is clear of 'em.